Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside

Nick L at the front desk gave us a lovely surprise by upgrading us to a fantastic suite (condo). He was very nice, professional, and informative. I arrived frustrated by the lack of self-parking, but Liz in valet was so helpful that I decided to park at the hotel and use valet instead of parking off-site. A fantastic stay, starting with Liz.

We had a good family stay, and the staff made us feel welcome from check-in through departure. The indoor pool had a relaxed, communal feel, with holiday music that made it fun to spend time together. Mornings at the Sheraton Club were a highlight, too, with a lovely breakfast and a nice social atmosphere. The festive Christmas decorations and music around the hotel added to the warm mood. Our in-room refrigerator wasn't working, which was a small annoyance, but it didn't spoil the comfortable, welcoming feel of the place.

We spent a lot for two nights around our wedding, with two one-bedroom condos at over $700 a night apiece and the presidential suite at $1,100 a night. As a longtime Bonvoy member and former Marriott Chief Engineer who worked in facilities management, I was disappointed by the condition for that price. Both the condo and suite felt worn. In my condo, the furniture was askew, the end tables didn't match, the bedroom curtains were coming off their hooks, there was a hole in the hallway wall, and the carpet was frayed. The cleaning crew also seemed to have missed basic details. Add the fees and $40 daily parking, especially compared with the $18 parking at the resort where we stayed afterward, and the value was poor. The bar was closed at 10 p.m. both Friday, after our welcoming party, and Saturday when we returned from the wedding venue. I was disappointed by the quality of the hotel under the Marriott flag.

After I found a cockroach in our bathroom, I reported it right away. They offered to remove the $40 parking fee and move us to another room. Once home, I emailed company headquarters. They apologized and said they'd tell hotel management, and management sent its own apology, saying cleanliness mattered to them. Still, finding a roach in a hotel room is disgusting, and it makes me worry there could be more. If you stay at the Sheraton in Portsmouth, keep an eye out, especially in the restaurant.